Eagles' Bell gets to Philly with a little help from friend

April 05, 2012|By Nick Fierro, Of The Morning Call

PHILADELPHIA — — Leave it to Howard Mudd to start Demetress Bell on his way to correcting a lifelong mistake.

The Eagles' venerable offensive line coach was having dinner with Bell last week as part of the team's recruiting pitch for the free-agent tackle, whose value to them increased exponentially the moment starting left tackle Jason Peters ruptured his right Achilles tendon late last month.

"He wanted to know if [the pronunciation of] my name was De-MEE-tree-us or De-MEE-tress," said Bell, who had spelled his first name "Demetrius" all his life, but had pronounced it the other way.

That's when Bell confessed that, well, the real first name on his birth certificate was actually "Demetress," even though he had been going by "Demetrius" all his life.

Bell, who said he never saw his birth certificate until adulthood, had just decided to keep the mutated spelling once he found out it was wrong.

But not long after meeting the man who will wind up working with him the most over these next 10 months or so, Bell decided to make it right when he signed the five-year contract the Eagles offered him as "Demetress Bell."

No matter. A Demetress by any other name would smell as sweet to the Eagles after likely losing Peters for the season.

The most important thing was that they got their man — with a little help from his friend.

That would be Peters, his teammate and mentor in Buffalo until the Bills traded Peters to the Eagles in 2009. Peters was one of the first people Bell consulted after learning of the injury.

"We both decided this would be the best situation for me and my family," Bell said. "Me and him do have a great relationship and we were close. ... He was one of the reasons I came here."

Never mind that Bell's presence would almost certainly mean three is a crowd when Peters completes his rehab and is ready to return.

"I'm just taking it one day at a time and listening to [head] coach [Andy] Reidand coach Mudd and what they want to me to do," Bell said. "Whatever they want me to do, I'll do. I haven't given any thought as to down the road and where I want to be. I have a five-year deal and I'll take it one day at a time.

"... It won't be awkward at all [when Peters comes back]. This is a business and I understand that. I know that he understands that. Whatever happens on the back side, I'm sure we'll be friends at the end of the day."

To that end, the Eagles have structured Bell's contract, which according to a league source is worth a total of $35 million, so that nothing is guaranteed beyond 2012.

"It's essentially a 'one-year-and-then-we'll see,' " said a team source.

For now, Bell is a perfect fit, and that's all that matters to the Eagles, who have a history of not messing around with this position.

Doesn't matter that their quarterback is left-handed.

Through the years, the Eagles have been known to leave themselves short at a position or two, but never at the positions they value most, of which left tackle is one.

Had, say, Brent Celek suffered a season-threatening injury, no way would the Eagles have rushed to sign a top free-agent tight end, like they did with Bell.

Bell loves the organization almost as much as he loves Mudd's jump sets, which allows the linemen, particularly those on the outside, to take advantage of their athletic ability more than the vertical sets employed by the Bills.

"In Buffalo, the technique was very set and we would just go straight back," Bell said. "With coach Mudd, coach Mudd's technique is sitting wider and keeping the pocket in a circle shape. In Buffalo, you just set straight back, but with coach Mudd it's more of a basketball technique in your defensive position, and that's how I look at it. I think that will really benefit me."

Bell, of course, has a basketball background, having originally attended Northwestern State on a basketball scholarship.

In fact, he had never played football until being recruited by the coaches there to go out.

Bell believes so little time in the sport means he has yet to come close to his ceiling.

"Me and my mom just left Coach Reid's office and she tells him she was never around football and was still learning," he said. "I kind of joke and tell her we're both still learning. I don't see myself peaking for a couple more years. ... I'm not where I want to be yet."